System for heating liquid or semiliquid confections.



N0. 7|5,I89. Patented Dec. 2, 1902 F. P. ZIEGLER.

SYSTEM FOR HEATING LlfllllD OB SEMILIQUID GONFEGTIONS.

(A iplication flied Apr. 21, 1902.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 715,189J

Patented Dec. 2, I902.

F. P ZIEGLER. V SYSTEM FOR HEATlNG LIQUID 0B SEIMLIHUH) INFECTIONS.

(Application filed Apr. 21, 19:;2. j

2 Sheets-Shut 2.

(No Model.)

' @NM/QW UNITED STATES PATENT OF I E.

FRANK P. ZIEGLER, OF ,MILXVAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SYSTEM FOR HEATlN GLlQU lD OR SEM'ILIQUID CONFECTIONS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 715,189, dated December 2, 1902. Application filed April 21, 1902. Serial No. 103,893. {Nu model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LFRAN P. ZIEGLER, re-, siding at Milwaukee, in the county of Mil-v waukee and State of Wisconsin, have in vent-' ed a new and useful Improvementin Systems for Heating Liquids or Semiliquid Confec-' fections, such as liquid chocolates, so as to prevent coagulation or hardening of the liq-: uid, especially where liquid is to be used as the outer coating for a confection. In Letters Patent of the United States issued to me on February :26, 1901, No. 668,726, is shown and described an improved kettle for heating such liquid or semiliquid confections and the presout improvements relate more particularly to the system whereby a plurality of kettles,such as covered in said patent, are continually supplied with the heating agent and said heating agent finally conducted from the last kettle of the series of kettles and then carried back to be again and again reused in the system.

With the above primary object and other incidental objects in view the invention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the complete system, showing two of the improved kettlesin connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the kettles and the supporting medium therefor. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. '2, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of Fig. 2.

The kettles covered in my former patent are supported upon a suitable supporting means, such as a table 5, the top of said table being provided at intervals apart with openings 6, but being otherwise solid throughout. Each kettle covered in said former patent, No. 668,726, consists of two sheets or linings of metal or other desirable material-that is, an outer sheet 7 and an inner sheet S which are closed at their ends and sides. Both the outer and inner sheets are bent downwardly to form a receptacle 9, while the portions projecting from opposite side edges of the recep tacle are on a horizontal plane and form What I term pans 1O 10. The receptacle 9 of each kettle fits in the opening 6 therefor in the top of the table, while the pans 10 10 rest upon the solid portions of the top of the table, which extend outwardly in opposite directionsfromsaidopening. Theinnerandouter sheets of the kettles are arranged a suitable distance apart to form a space therebetweeu, the space of the'pans being indicated by the numerals 11. l1 and the space of the receptacle by the numeral 12. The several spaces are all in communication with each other, as.

willbe clearly seen from Fig. 4. I Spaces (not shown) are also preferably provided at opposite ends of the receptacle, so that the heat in the receptacle may be evenly distributed not only on opposite sides and over the bottom of the receptacle, but also at said opposite ends. The liquid of course is in the'receptacle a considerable time, and consequently the end spaces are very desirable in order to prevent any hardening of the liquid at opposite ends ignated, respectively, by the numerals l-tt 14,)

to thereby form three of the passages extending longitudinally of each kettle. The partition 14 is joined to one end of one of the pans and is then extended longitudinally the length of said pan and across the receptacle and for substantially the length of the opposite pan, but terminating just short of the I prefer to employ in connection with the table an inverted-U-shaped stand 15, which is supported on that portion of the top of the table between two of the pans. This portion of the table is also adapted to support two trays 16 16. The space between the depending end pieces of the inverted U-shaped stand is sufiicient to permit two of the trays to be slid therein. The trays aroused for receiving the chocolates or other confections after having been coated, and said trays are filled from the inner end outwardly, being gradually pushed inwardly beneath the U- shaped stand as the filling progresses. As soon as a tray is completely filled it is taken from the table and placed on the top of the stand. The end pieces of each tray are preferably extended upwardly slightly, as indicated by the numerals 17 17, so that when a plurality of trays are supported on the stand air is permitted to circulate freely therebeneath, and thereby keep the chocolates cool and fresh.

As stated in my former patent, each kettle may have only one of the pans but the two-pan construction is preferred, inasmuch as it provides for two operators to each kettle, said operators being seated on' opposite sides of the table.

The main novel feature of my present invention is the system in which the table and the kettles carried thereby are included, the system having as its object the continuous feed of the heatingagent through the series of kettles and thence back to be again used in the system. Referring to this system, the numeral 18 indicates a water-tank, to the upper end of which an overflow-pipe 19 is connected. Extending into this tank and preferably downwardly to a point slightly above the bottom thereof is a pipe 20,which connects to an ordinary form of water-pump 21. Another pipe 22 leads from the pump and enters the top of aheater 23, which has also extending therefrom an overflow-pipe 24. A steampipe 25, leading from any suitable source of steam-supply, extends into the top of the heater, and a steam-outlet pipe 26 extends from the bottom of said heater. In the pipe is a valve 27, which is preferably regulated by means of a thermostatically-operated airregulator. The thermostat 28 is connected to the side of the heater 23, and an air-pipe 29 leads from said thermostat and connects with an air-regulator 30, another pipe 31 in turn leading from the air-regulator to the valve 27. In the operation of this thermostatically-operated air-regulator, if, for instance, it is desired that the supply of steam to the heater 23 should be shut oif when said heater reaches a temperature of, say, 90, the air-regulator is adjusted accordingly, as is common in suchdevices, and the moment the heater reaches 90 the thermostat will be operated, and this will permit a free flow of air through the pipe 31 to the valve 27, the said air operating to close the said valve. The

air-regulator is supplied with air under pressure by any desirable means, preferably through the mediumof a hydraulic pump 32, the water-inlet pipe thereof being indicated by the numeral 33 and the water-outlet pipe thereof by the numeral 34. Extending from the pump is an air-pipe 35, and this pipe communicates with an air-tank 36, another pipe 37 leading from said air-tank to the air-regulator 30. It is obvious that when the hydraulic pump is operated air is forced up the pipe 35 and enters the tank 36 and is compressed therein, said compressed air being free to fiow through the pipe 37 to the airregulator.

Water is introduced into the heater 23 through an inlet-pipe 38.

Extending from the heater-23 is a hot-water feed-pipe 39, which leads upwardly and has coupled thereto a horizontal branch pipe 40, said branch pipeprovided with a series of upwardly-extending nipples 41, each nipple leading to one end of one of the pans 10 of each kettle supported on the table.

Extending horizontally beneath the opposite longitudinal edge of the table is a discharge-pipe 42, provided with a series of upwardly-extending nipples 43, each of said nipples communicating with the other end of one of the pans of each kettle. This horizontal pipe extends downwardly and 1s coupled to another pipe 44, leading to the water-tank 18.

In the use of my invention a quantity of the liquid confection is placed in'each receptacle 9. The heater 23 being filled with water and steam being allowed to enter said heater through the pipe 25, the said water is heated and by gravity flows down the pipe 39, thence along pipe 40, and up the nipples 41 into the pans, and thence passes through the several spaces of the pans hereinbefore referred to, thereby keeping the kettles at the proper temperature to prevent hardening of the liquid. After this heated water circulates through the spaces it finally passes down the nipples 43 and enters the pipe 42, thence passes to the pipe 44 and into the water-tank 18, being drawn upwardly from said tank through the operation of the pump 21 and back to the heater 23. As previously described, the airregulator can be set so that the supply of steam to the heater 23 can be shut off when said heater reaches a certain temperature by reason of the compressed air operating the valve 27. It will be understood that the operators are on opposite sides of the table and at the ends of the pans, and each operator takes a certain amount of the liquid from the receptacle and places it in the pan, and the molded cream or other candy is then coated with the chocolate or other liquid.

By the use of my invention the liquid is' effectually prevented from hardening during the process of coating the candy, and at the same time a continuous system is provided adapted to uninterruptedly supply the heat ing agent uniformly throughout the entire surfaces of all the kettles in the series and thence conducted back and reused continuously during the operation of the system.

While I have herein described the tank 23 as a water-tank and the pipes 39 and 44 as Water-pipes, yet I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, inasmuch as it is obvious that, if desired, the tank 23 may be supplied with air, or any other suitable agent capable of being heated and flowing through the pipe 39 to the confection-kettles, and after circulating through said confectionkettles, carried back to the tank 23.

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means, a confection-kettle supported thereby, said kettle having a receptacle for the confection and a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle, and said kettle also provided withheating-spaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main heater, a pipe extending therefrom and leading to and communicating with the heating-spaces of the confection-kettle, and adapted to conduct the heating agent into said spaces, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle, and adapted to conduct the heating agent therefrom, and means for finally conducting said heating agent from the last-referred-to pipe back to the main heater.

2. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means, a confection-kettle supported thereby, said kettle having a receptacle for the confection and a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle and also provided with heating-spaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main heater, a pipe extending therefrom and leading to and communicating with the heating-spaces of the confectionkettle, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle and adapted to conduct the heating agent therefrom, a water-tank to which said pipe leads, another pipe extending from the water-tank and back to the main Water-heater, and a pump constructed when operated to cause the water to flow through said pipe and back to the main heater.

3. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means, a confection-kettle supported thereby, said kettle having a receptacle for the confection and pans extending horizontally in opposite directions from said receptacle, and said kettle also provided with heating-spaces throughout the receptacle and .pans, a main heater, a pipe extending from .said' main heater and leading to and communicating with the spaces of the confectionkettle, and adapted to conduct the heating agent into said spaces, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confectionkettle and adapted to conduct the heating agent therefrom, and means for finally conporting means, a series of confection'kettles supported thereby, each kettle having a receptacle and a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle, and each kettle also provided with heating-spaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main heater, a pipe ex-- tending from said main heater and leading to and communicating with the heating-spaces of the confection-kettles, and adapted to conduct the heating agentinto said spaces, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the con fection-kettles,and adapted to conduct the heating agent therefrom, and means for finally conducting said heating agent from the last-referred-to pipe back to the main heater.

5. In a system for heating liquid: or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means, a confection-kettle supported thereby, said kettle having a receptacle and a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle, and said kettle also provided with heatingspaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main water-heater, a steam-pipe leading thereto for heating the water therein, a hot-Water pipe extending from the main Water heater, and communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle, and adapted to conduct the heated water into said spaces, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle and adapted to con-' duct the heating agent therefrom, and means for finally conducting said heated water from the last-referred-to pipe back to the main-wator-heater.

6. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means, a confection-kettle supported thereby, said kettle having a receptacle and a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle, and said kettle also provided with heatingspaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main Water-heater, a steam-pipe leading thereto for heating the water therein, means for automatically closing oif the'supply of steam to the water-heater, when the temperature of said heater reaches a certain set point, a hot-water pipe extending from the main water-heater and communicating with and adapted to conduct the heated water into the spaces of the confection-kettle, another pipe communicating with said spaces of the confection-kettle and adapted to conduct the heated water therefrom, and means for finally conducting said heated water from the last-referred-to pipe back to the main waprovided with heating-spaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main water-heater, a steam-pipe leading thereto, an air-operated valve within the steam-pipe, an air-regulator having a pipe leading therefrom to the valve, means for automatically operating the airregulator, when the heater reaches a certain set temperature, whereby air is permitted to flow to the valve and operate said valve so as to effect the closing thereof, a hot-water pipe leading from the main water-heater and communicating with and adapted to conduct the heated Water to the confection-kettle, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle and adapted to conduct the heated water therefrom, and means for finally conducting the water from the last-referredto pipe back to the main water-heater.

8. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means, a confection-kettle supported thereby, said kettle having a receptacle for the confection and a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle, and said kettle also provided with heating-spaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main Water-heater, a steam-pipe leading thereto, an air-operated valve within the steam-pipe, an air-regulator having a pipe leading therefrom to the valve, a thermostat connected to the water-heater and having an air-pipe leading therefrom and to the air-regulator, said thermostat, when the water-heater reaches a certain set temperature, adapted to permit the air toflow from the air-regulator and operate the valve of the steam-inlet pipe so as to effect the closing of said valve, a hot-Water pipe extending from the main Water-heater and communicating with and adapted to conduct the heated Water into the spaces of the confection-kettle, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle, and adapted to conduct the heated Water therefrom, and means for finally conducting the water from the lastreferred-to pipe back to the main water-heater.

9. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a sup porting means, a confection-kettle supported thereby, said kettle having a receptacle for the confection and a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle, and said kettle also provided with heating-spaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main water-heater, a steam-pipe leading thereto, an air-operated valve within the steam-pipe, an air-regulator having a pipe leading therefrom to the valve, means for automatically operating the airregulator, when the Water-heater reaches a certain set temperature, whereby the air is permitted to flow to the valve and operate said valve so as to effect the closing thereof, a compressed-air tank, a pipe leading therefrom to the air-regulator, a pump for forcing air to the compressed-air tank, a hot-Water pipe extending from the main water-heater and leading to and communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle, and adapted to conduct the heated water to said spaces, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle, and adapted to conduct the heated water therefrom, and means for finally conducting the waterfrom the lastreferred-to pipe back to the main water-heater.

10. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means, a confection-kettle supported thereby, said kettle having a receptacle for the confection and a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle, and said kettle also provided with heating-spaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main water-heater, a steam-pipe leading thereto, an air-operated valve within the steam-pipe, an air-regulator having a pipe leading therefrom to the valve, means for automatically operating the airregulator, when the Water-heater reaches a certain set temperature, whereby the air is permitted to flow to the valve and operate said valve so as to effect the closing thereof, means for supplying compressed air to the airregulator, a hot- Water pipe extending from the main water-pipe and leading to and communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle and adapted to conduct the heated Water to said spaces, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettle, and adapted to conduct the heated water therefrom, a water-tank to which said pipe leads, another pipe extending from the watertank and leading to the main water-heater, and means for causing the water to flow from the water-tank through said latter pipe and back to the main water-heater.

11. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means, a series of confection-kettles supported thereby, each kettle having a receptacle for the confection and a pan extending horizontally therefrom, and each kettle also provided with heating-spaces throughout the receptacle and pan, a main waterheater, a steam-pipe leading thereto, an airoperated valve within the steam-pipe, an airregulator having a pipe leading therefrom to the valve, means for automatically operating the airregulator, when the Water heater reaches a certain temperature, whereby the air is permitted to flow to the valve and operate said valve so as to effect the closing thereof, means for supplying compressed air to the air-regulator, a hot-water pipe extending from the main water-heater and leading to and communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettles, and adapted to conduct the heated water to said spaces, another pipe communicating with the spaces of the confection-kettles and adapted to conduct the heated water therefrom, a water tank to. which said pipe leads, another pipe extending from the water-tank and leading to the main Water-heater, and means for causing the water to flow from the water-tank through said latter pipe and back to the main water-heater.

12. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means having the top thereof provided with a series of openings arranged a dis tance apart, a series of confection-kettles, each kettle provided with a receptacle extending into one of the openings of the supporting means, and with a pan extending horizontally from the receptacle and resting on the top of the supporting means, the said confection-kettle also provided with heatingspaces throughout the receptacle and pan, and means for supplying the heating agent to, and discharging the same from, the kettles.

13. In a system for heating liquid or semiliquid confections, the combination of a supporting means provided in its top with a series of openings arranged at distances apart,

a series of confection-kettles supported by In testimony whereof I affix my signature 30 in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK P. ZIEGLER.

Witnesses:

A. L. MoRsELL, ANNA V. FAUST. 

